By Michael A. Smith, MD

In this economy, it’s even harder to eat healthy. Food prices are going up and our dollars are being stretched to their maximum. For many of us, organic, fresh foods don’t always fit in our budgets and pre-packaged foods are simply more affordable.

But before you purchase anything pre-packaged, please do this: Look at your food labels. If you identify any of the ingredients listed in this post, find something else to eat. It may mean spending more time at your local grocery store, but in the long run your body will thank you.

Where to Look on Nutrition Labels

First, you need to know where to look on the label for these harmful artificial chemicals and fake fats. Below is an example of a food label. In most cases, the top part of the label contains the general nutritional information. Start here so you know the basic breakdown of the food you’re about to purchase and ultimately eat.

The five areas to look for are serving size; calories from fat; macronutrient information (fat, protein and carbohydrates); micronutrient information (vitamins and minerals); and then the daily total calories you should eat from fat, protein and carbohydrates. Notice that in addition to all of the calorie information, you also need to look at the laundry list of ingredients that follows it.

Next, following the general nutritional information, are the ingredients. This is what you need to look at before you buy anything you plan on eating. This is where harmful ingredients can be identified.

Harmful Food Ingredients to Avoid

Now let’s get down to business. Avoid the following harmful ingredients as much as possible. It’s not easy, but fortunately more and more companies are manufacturing processed and pre-packaged foods without them.

Please note that this list is NOT exhaustive. These are just the ingredients that we know for sure are harmful to your health. For a more complete listing of harmful ingredients, you can visit the Whole Foods market website.

The best thing to do is write out this list or print out the post and carry it with you when shopping. Does this sound like too much work? It may be, but it’s probably worth it.

Below is a list of companies that generally offer healthy pre-packaged foods. However, don’t buy their products blindly. We still suggest checking their labels for harmful ingredients. You just never know.

Healthy Pre-Packaged Foods

Support these labels. They’re producing healthier food choices for you and your family. Yes, the cost maybe a little higher, but your health is worth it, isn’t it?

Annie's

Amy’s

Fantastic Foods

Hain-Celestial Group

Kallari

Morningstar Farms

Simply Fit

Whole Foods Market Brand

Do you know of any healthy brands that didn’t make our list? Share them with us in the comments below.

WHY ARE THEY PUTTING ALL THESES HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN OUR FOODS, TO THE FOOD COMPANIES ARE MAKING US SICK, JUST FOR MAKING MONEY FOR THEIR POCKETS AND NOT GIVING A DAM ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE MAKING SICK OR DYING. WHY I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW.

Think of it this way, If you owned and/or had investments in Oil companies (The source of all these petroleum-based chemicals), Chemical Companies (Making the pesticides for growing the food in volume from the petrol-chemicals), Agra-business (making the money growing the food using these poisons), and subsequently, Pharmaceutical Companies (So called "Inventing" petro-chemical cures and beam rays for the ailments being caused upstream), would you not continue this practice? Surely you would when you noodle the trillions of dollars these industries represent, none of which are mission-critical to the existence of humans on earth.

Why recommend Hain-Celestial Group when they are in bed with Monsanto, which is probably the worlds most corrupt and destructive group of people, besides our government, big oil (or all all "power companies" for that matter), and the pharmaceutical industry. Hain-Celestial Group also places carrageenan in their soy milk, which is not healthy, and soy, period, has recently been known to be extremely bad for young men.

All of these brands may provide some healthier alternative, BUT BUT BUT, like nearly any company they only care about their bottom dollar. You really can't trust anyone but yourself, your gut, and what you learn.

the very people who own everything want a smaller population to manage...thats why they are systematically poisoning our food and water and giving us "flu" shots and want to disarm the people. Remember information is the most powerful weapon..and politicains prefer unarmed peasants...so you wonder why there is a 'dumbing down' of Americans, GMO's in our foods, a move against the 2nd ammendmaent, a lack of ......look up the Georgia Guidestones....Youtube Money Masters...these are not conspiracy theories....just do the math...sad to be a messenger...

Morningstar is owned by Kellogg and has 2 different versions of their product. One you find in health food stores most likely is healthy, but check the ingredients. The other version is sold in most grocery store chains and can contain Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Artifical Flavors

Modified Corn Starch

Maltodextrin

Partially Hydrogenated Oil

Disodium Guanylate and Inosinate

Modified Food Starch

Calcium Propionate

Azodicardonamide

Always check the ingredients, even in trusted sources. Big companies buy out little ones all the time and you may not hear about it right away. Also Kashi was a big supporter of not labelling products that are GMO'd in California. Their food contains a lot of processed soy... sounds kind of murky since Monsanto is the leader in GMO'd soy.

Just when I think I might purchase a packaged baked good at the grocery store, I read the mile long ingredients, mostly names I never heard of and it frighten's me that I can not identify all of them. So, I end up putting it back thinking I better make something at home and I do... It never used to be this bad and it is wrong that our food has become something we can not identify!

Not to mention fast food joints that are poisoning our kids, HFCS, parabens in health care products, and can someone tell me why canned goods need a shelf life of 3-5 years, please, I started a healthy eating lifestyle 15 months ago and lost 56 lbs. eat mostly a plant based diet organic fruits and veggies, but not vegetarian, and cut way down on meats, eat some fish, some chicken. I make my own kim chee, and grew my first organic veggie garden last summer, which I sprouted all my plants from organic seeds, grow sprouts and have added hemp, chia and flax seeds to my diet, there is alot of good info out there, its a big committment but I want a fighting chance at living a long life without being a burden to my kids, family. plus I am 53 and ride my bicycle on a regular basis and always have, healthy eating, exercise and good night sleep are the foundation to a long life, Ciao..

My first day to research about unhealthy chemicals in food after a neighbor warned me of processed foods. Thank you everyone for your posts as I read each one I learned more. I don't know how to change meals in my families menu quite yet, but I will definitely be paying closer attention to what I buy.

I have found Boulder Natural Food Company, from Boulder, Colorado products that are organic, nonGMO and very tasty. They also give part of their profits to help keep America's Rivers Clean. Of all places, I found them at Garden Ridge. I've asked my local Whole Foods if they can get them and intend on asking my grocery store to stock them, too.

You mentioned Morningstar Farms as one of the safer companies. But once the cousin of my dog's previous trainer's ex-employer's friend's newspaper delivery boy's teacher's friend's friend's friend tried one of their products at a church gathering and then several weeks later reported having slept a little less well than usual the previous night. I'm concerned that this may be glaring proof that the owners of this company may in fact be Pure Distilled Evil.

Something I'm really puzzled about. Beetroot juice and vegetable juice in general is prized in part for their high levels of dietary nitrate. Improves blood flow, etc. etc.But we avoid foods like delicious duck pate, chorizo and salami because the Contain nitrates. Can someone please explain this contradiction?

vlc- Good question. Both processed meats and veggies contain nitrates. What makes deli meat dangerous is their content of nitrosamine (cancer-causing). This is a compound that forms when amino acids and nitrates chemically react in high heat. This process happens in deli meats because of the way they are processed and rarely happens in vegetables because they rarely get exposed to high heat. In addition vegetables contain compounds like vitamin C that inhibit nitrosamine formation.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.